Evening meals & Counting Cals!

Ela ine

Likes to post, and eat.
Hi all,

I can't be the only one who does this... Estimating how many calories are in something for the evening meal?!

I'm putting this down as the reason I only lost 1lb after my first week on slim fast.

As a previous swer... I've been choosing a day and making either a red or a green day 'meal' and having that in the evening.

This won't do, will it?! Any tips on counting the cals, meals for 500-600 cals? What do you guys do? Don't want to have to get ready meals with the numbers on!!!

Thanks in advance x
 
Ela ine said:
Hi all,

I can't be the only one who does this... Estimating how many calories are in something for the evening meal?!

I'm putting this down as the reason I only lost 1lb after my first week on slim fast.

As a previous swer... I've been choosing a day and making either a red or a green day 'meal' and having that in the evening.

This won't do, will it?! Any tips on counting the cals, meals for 500-600 cals? What do you guys do? Don't want to have to get ready meals with the numbers on!!!

Thanks in advance x

Hi love
I also do this I been using a few SW extra easy recipes as there not usually high in cals or fat n I been putting ingredients in myfitnesspal app so it sort of estimating but I know wot u mean Hun. I'm sure as long u stick to meat n veg n salads n pasta n rice dishes if u not heavy on oil/ butter/honey etc in yr recipes n u can use MFP u shud b ok x am hoping that's not y I put on but I must admit I have printed some under 600 recipes off x check out bbc goodfood online or u cud buy a calorie counting recipe book, I have Gino D'acampos Italian diet book n that tells u how many cals/fat etc is in the recipes too!
I will c wot everyone else says also
X
 
Hi there.

I'm a former SW'er too!! In my first week on SF I lost 2lb (which i was quite disappointed with) and in my second week only 1lb!! Like you, I have been wondering about whether I'd worked out the evening meals calories wrongly. For that reason, this week, I am having healthy ready meals with salad/veggies so that I know I can count properly. That will determine whether I stay on this or not. I really want to make SF work though as it suits my finances and lifestyle better> I have started a diary page with a food diary too if you want to give that a look to see how i get on this week on ready meals!!

Cheers amd good luck with your weight loss!!

Anita xx
 
i just count the calories off the packets? everything has a calorie value and if its something fresh i just google it!
last night was sausage casserole so i looked on packets the sausages were 96 each i had 3 so said 300cals, then the sauce was 47cal for 1/4jar i said 100 to be on the safe side! (cos i shared with my kids) then i had it with ww mash at 79 cals per serving had just under 2 servings but still said for arguements sake 200cals. i just round it up to be safe the reason i gave up WW cos i hated the tracking and working out so i just make a rough guess from the packs hope this helps x
and i lost 6.5lb this wk my 1st wk x
 
I weigh all of my food out to make sure I'm having the right portion size. For example with pasta, the packet usually says one serving is 75g, but I use 100g instead as 75g is too small. So I weigh out the 100g of pasta, and use a tablespoon to measure the pesto etc. This way, I know exactly how many calories are in the food, and I log it in MyFitnessPal to keep track of everything I eat :)
 
Hi love
I also do this I been using a few SW extra easy recipes as there not usually high in cals or fat n I been putting ingredients in myfitnesspal app so it sort of estimating but I know wot u mean Hun. I'm sure as long u stick to meat n veg n salads n pasta n rice dishes if u not heavy on oil/ butter/honey etc in yr recipes n u can use MFP u shud b ok x am hoping that's not y I put on but I must admit I have printed some under 600 recipes off x check out bbc goodfood online or u cud buy a calorie counting recipe book, I have Gino D'acampos Italian diet book n that tells u how many cals/fat etc is in the recipes too!
I will c wot everyone else says also
X

Thanks hun! Wow it sounds like you are quite the chef :p
I may have a look at getting a cook book.. I'm rubbish, Jamie Oliver would have a LOT to say :p


Hi there.

I'm a former SW'er too!! In my first week on SF I lost 2lb (which i was quite disappointed with) and in my second week only 1lb!! Like you, I have been wondering about whether I'd worked out the evening meals calories wrongly. For that reason, this week, I am having healthy ready meals with salad/veggies so that I know I can count properly. That will determine whether I stay on this or not. I really want to make SF work though as it suits my finances and lifestyle better> I have started a diary page with a food diary too if you want to give that a look to see how i get on this week on ready meals!!

Cheers amd good luck with your weight loss!!

Anita xx

Hi hun, yeah I think part of the reason is you can have SO much food on sw.. and on sf the point is to cut it out.
Don't get me wrong, I love the freedom of sw but wanted to try sf as a change.. away from lots of food..... as my losses had completly slowed down.

I still make sw type meals.. but maybe I'm making too much? Will try and cut the portions.. or to just fill my plate in a red day/green day kinda way?

Hi love
I also do this I been using a few SW extra easy recipes as there not usually high in cals or fat n I been putting ingredients in myfitnesspal app so it sort of estimating but I know wot u mean Hun. I'm sure as long u stick to meat n veg n salads n pasta n rice dishes if u not heavy on oil/ butter/honey etc in yr recipes n u can use MFP u shud b ok x am hoping that's not y I put on but I must admit I have printed some under 600 recipes off x check out bbc goodfood online or u cud buy a calorie counting recipe book, I have Gino D'acampos Italian diet book n that tells u how many cals/fat etc is in the recipes too!
I will c wot everyone else says also
X

Thanks hun! Wow it sounds like you are quite the chef :p
I may have a look at getting a cook book.. I'm rubbish, Jamie Oliver would have a LOT to say :p


Hi there.

I'm a former SW'er too!! In my first week on SF I lost 2lb (which i was quite disappointed with) and in my second week only 1lb!! Like you, I have been wondering about whether I'd worked out the evening meals calories wrongly. For that reason, this week, I am having healthy ready meals with salad/veggies so that I know I can count properly. That will determine whether I stay on this or not. I really want to make SF work though as it suits my finances and lifestyle better> I have started a diary page with a food diary too if you want to give that a look to see how i get on this week on ready meals!!

Cheers amd good luck with your weight loss!!

Anita xx

Hi hun, yeah I think part of the reason is you can have SO much food on sw.. and on sf the point is to cut it out.
Don't get me wrong, I love the freedom of sw but wanted to try sf as a change.. away from lots of food..... as my losses had completly slowed down.

I still make sw type meals.. but maybe I'm making too much? Will try and cut the portions.. or to just fill my plate in a red day/green day kinda way?


i just count the calories off the packets? everything has a calorie value and if its something fresh i just google it!
last night was sausage casserole so i looked on packets the sausages were 96 each i had 3 so said 300cals, then the sauce was 47cal for 1/4jar i said 100 to be on the safe side! (cos i shared with my kids) then i had it with ww mash at 79 cals per serving had just under 2 servings but still said for arguements sake 200cals. i just round it up to be safe the reason i gave up WW cos i hated the tracking and working out so i just make a rough guess from the packs hope this helps x
and i lost 6.5lb this wk my 1st wk x

Ah thanks hun. I know there are cals on packets of stuff.. but thanks to sw (not that I'm not grateful for this) I tend to not make stuff from packets/jars anymore.. and use fresh meat and veg.
Will hopefuly be okay checking cals on supermarker websites etc.. and for veg and salad. Thinking lots of stir fry.


I weigh all of my food out to make sure I'm having the right portion size. For example with pasta, the packet usually says one serving is 75g, but I use 100g instead as 75g is too small. So I weigh out the 100g of pasta, and use a tablespoon to measure the pesto etc. This way, I know exactly how many calories are in the food, and I log it in MyFitnessPal to keep track of everything I eat :)

Thank you Em! Much appreciated :)

Also - look forward to converting back over to sw with you :p
 
I'll hopefully be converting to SW after about 3 months on Slim Fast. Never really followed SW before, but I like the idea of free foods! :)
 
SW is really easy, if you stick to it.

(like any diet really, haha) x
 
IT really could be your portion sizes. I used to do slimming world and it did not teach me anything about portion sizes. Its a great diet I lost weight fairly quickly on it eating as much food as I liked. When I stopped it I was still in the habit of eating large portions but obviously large portions of the wrong stuff. I put on 8 pounds from my original weight after losing 2 stone. I am not blaming slimming world for my poor eating habits but I feel if I always eat like that my stomach will never shrink and I will always be at risk of overeating.

My main reason for starting slimfast was for the convenience but it has definitely taught me that I was eating far too big portions before and didn't get me into a routine of when I should be eating, just nibbling all day. In my opinion this is not normal either.

You could buy yourself a portion plate showing you how much of certain food types you should be eating or else use kids plates to start getting in the habit of things.

Another thing I would like to add is that I had a big appetite before I started slimfast and looked into getting a gastric band to shrink my stomach but was not heavy enough. I felt like I could never eat 3 meals and 3 small snacks a day without help.

I was explaining my thoughts to my sister who has lost 4 stone and maintained it just through sensible eating and excercise who replied 'Why not do it yourself? I did' that made me click and realise that I needed a more disciplined diet to teach me not only what to eat but how much and how often basically. After only four weeks I do not have the same urges to binge or even craving of fatty foods. Sorry to blag on but just adding my tuppence worth :) Best of luck, can't wait to hear how you are getting on.
 
I do agree with you totally vitality I also wanted to feel my stomach begin to shrink and not be able to eat massive portions because that can't carry on forever and personally I can't be trusted if I have too much free reign lol xx
 
IT really could be your portion sizes. I used to do slimming world and it did not teach me anything about portion sizes. Its a great diet I lost weight fairly quickly on it eating as much food as I liked. When I stopped it I was still in the habit of eating large portions but obviously large portions of the wrong stuff. I put on 8 pounds from my original weight after losing 2 stone. I am not blaming slimming world for my poor eating habits but I feel if I always eat like that my stomach will never shrink and I will always be at risk of overeating.

Absolutely the same hun! I do love slimming world.. but boy if I ever 'cheated' I would put on and more! I had good losses on sw, but also good gains.. and my portion sizes were HUGE!

My main reason for starting slimfast was for the convenience but it has definitely taught me that I was eating far too big portions before and didn't get me into a routine of when I should be eating, just nibbling all day. In my opinion this is not normal either.

You could buy yourself a portion plate showing you how much of certain food types you should be eating or else use kids plates to start getting in the habit of things.

I feel the same hun, I felt that I was simply eating too much, even if it was 'free foods' and I needed to curb this. 'Unlimited' or 'free' foods are not my friend anymore.. because I could, and I am being serious.. eat three packets of pasta n sauce as a snack.

I did try EE for a while, but found I only gained.. I think this didn't work for me purely because of portion size!

For example... say a meal was I don't know.. pasta bolognaise.
On a red day - I would have heaps of (free) bolognaise, and a measured ammount of pasta.
On a gree days, heaps of pasta, and lots of bologanise made with the measured ammount of mince.

EE?
I would have the ammount of protein I would have on a red day, the ammount of carbs I would have on green and THEN a third super free. I a word - well Augustus Gloup!

Another thing I would like to add is that I had a big appetite before I started slimfast and looked into getting a gastric band to shrink my stomach but was not heavy enough. I felt like I could never eat 3 meals and 3 small snacks a day without help.

I was explaining my thoughts to my sister who has lost 4 stone and maintained it just through sensible eating and excercise who replied 'Why not do it yourself? I did' that made me click and realise that I needed a more disciplined diet to teach me not only what to eat but how much and how often basically. After only four weeks I do not have the same urges to binge or even craving of fatty foods. Sorry to blag on but just adding my tuppence worth :) Best of luck, can't wait to hear how you are getting on.

I agree hun, I'm not saying 'we're on a diet, we're supposed to be hungry'
But I *need* to eat less, and get used to eating less!

That being said - I do still try and get the most food I can for the ammount of calories (if that makes sense)

Anyway, I've decided (wish me luck!) to, for the moment at least.. buy ready meals etc and use them for dinners, along with vegetables/salads/yogurts/stir frys/fruit... to help me control the portions and calories I am eating.

Hope this will work for me. xx
 
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